While Durkheim and Tocqueville discuss groups, their views on what roles they play in society may seem somewhat similar. For instance, they both agree on the fact that aside from political groups, there is also a number of civil establishments that contribute to the development of an individual. Nevertheless, their opinions also have some differences, for example, Tocqueville speculates on how associations work in American democratic society, and why people create voluntary associations. On the other hand, Durkheim argues that intermediary groups exist between an individual and a society. The purpose of this paper is to define voluntary associations and intermediary groups, as well as to figure out how two political scientists interpret the main function of these establishments.
First of all, Tocqueville notes that associations in a country maybe not only political, and people continuously create them for a variety of reasons. However, there is no guarantee that civil associations can exist everywhere. For instance, they are rarely present in countries where the government does not allow creating political associations. Nevertheless, American citizens establish voluntarily groups for solving community problems, for entertainment, for religious, moral, or commercial reasons. While in other countries one can find a human or the government at the head of a new establishment, in the U.S. there is a high chance of finding a voluntary association. It is the primary feature of the American democratic society.
Moreover, Tocqueville also mentions that associations are considered to be one of the most powerful instruments of influencing people. As an example, the philosopher speaks about aristocratic societies, where a small group of influential individuals is a leader of a big association. At the same time, other people in this association, who are not that wealthy and influential, execute the plans of those who are above them. Such a hierarchy is compulsory in aristocratic groups, and it cannot be questioned.
He points out that since a democratic society is considered to be free of influences, it must be artificially created because people inevitably have an impact on each other. Furthermore, some people wish to promote their ideas and opinions, which can be performed through the means of associations. In most cases, such groups are created to establish new sentiments or beliefs. In that way, it would be easier to enforce these views on other people.
As for Durkheim, instead of claiming that groups have the only purpose of influencing an individual, he makes a clear distinction between them. He believes that a human possesses two consciousness, one of which is strictly personal; its content is what creates an individual. The other consciousness is shared with a society, which automatically means that it does not represent an individual, but rather how the opinions of others are acting within a person’s mind and behavior. That is where intermediary groups come into action; these groups serve as a bridge between an individual and the collective consciousness of a society. They can be formed in various institutions, including religion, families, and other facilities, where civil society groups can be created. They may serve several purposes; for example, they can provide sufficient communal bonds and means for an individual to interact with others. The process of communication is critical for integrating a person into society. At the same time, intermediary groups serve as a representation of people’s needs and may keep the power of the government in check. Therefore, the role of groups, according to Durkheim, is not to influence those who are weaker, but rather to empower them against strong ones.